TILIW - DEREK VANBOOVEN AND FRIEDRICH MUENCH
- Friends of Historic Augusta
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Wine sampling??_Katie Dieckhaus_Gottfried Duden_Fred and Lucian Dressel_T. V. Munson_Georg and Georg Muench Jr._Paul Hopen_Bill and Mary Ann Sadler_Gabe Miller_Gerard Eisterhold
Gentle readers, our live Tell It Like It Was in July features Derek VanBooven, who will speak about Friedrich Muench of Dutzow. As always, this event takes place at The Harmonie, 5333 Hackmann Rd., Augusta. It’s on Tuesday, July 14. Doors open 6pm; conversation starts 6:30pm. Admission is free. Wine and port sampling starts at 7:30pm.
What?? Wine and port sampling???? You heard me! But, let me first tell you about our speaker and his topic.
Derek VanBooven is a lifelong resident of Washington, Missouri, and alumni of Lindenwood University in St. Charles. Following graduation, he worked for 2 years as a tour guide at both Deutschheim State Historic Site in Hermann and the Historic Daniel Boone Home in Defiance. Recently, he assumed his current full-time position as Lead Interpreter at the Boone Home. In addition to his day job, Derek has given personal lectures on regional Civil War, German-American and industrial history for the Washington Historical Society, East Central College, and area schools.
So, gentle readers, you might wonder how I met Derek. Just lucky, I guess…because…last December, our museum president, Angela Stephens, and I, paid a call on the Washington MO Museum. There, we met with Executive Director, Katie Dieckhaus, and her assistant, Tina Seals. It was Katie who said we absolutely must meet an up-and-coming local historian who had already made presentations in the area, and better still, he was born and raised nearby. That got my attention, for sure.
So, a week later I called the Deutschheim State Historic Site in Hermann. I left my cell no. with them, and another week later, I was in a coffee house in Pacific trying to reel in another TILIW interviewee, when I received a call from Derek. He said he’d gladly do a TILIW.
Alright, who is Friedrich Muench, or Münch, if you prefer?
Muench was a German immigrant who came to Missouri in 1834. He was influenced by the writing of Gottfried Duden, who couldn’t say enough good things about Warren and St. Charles County. And I guess it’s no accident that Muench settled in Dutzow, not far from Duden’s previous farm. But I’ll let Derek tell you all about the significance of Friedrich…when you come to The Harmonie on July 14.
However, let me be the one who tells you about Muench’s fame in the realm of grape growing. I’m sure to get some of the facts wrong, but essentially, Muench was highly skilled as a viticulturist and even wrote a book on the topic.
According to Fred Dressel of Evergreen Vineyard, his father, Lucian Dressel, “had this book republished. He sold them at Mt. Pleasant. They long ago sold out but they show up on eBay now and then. All copies are numbered.” Then Fred led me to another copy on eBay, number 24 out of 500. This copy was signed by Lucian to Millard Cohen, a future member of the Augusta Wine Board.
Gentle readers, let me remind you that Lucian Dressel is the man who resurrected Augusta’s Mt. Pleasant Winery in the mid-60s. Here…read all about it: https://boonecountryconnection.com/tell-it-like-it-was/10804-tell-it-like-it-was-lucian-dressel-and-mt-pleasant-winery-part-1 Lucian, being the scholarly fellow that he is, was quick to learn the importance of Friedrich Muench, and he was aware of the Muench grape which was bred in Texas by T. V. Munson in 1886 and named after Dutzow’s famous viticulturist.
Georg Muench Jr., the son of Friedrich’s brother, grew that grape at Mt. Pleasant Winery, but it was nowhere to be seen when Lucian bought the winery. So, Dressel went on a search for the grape. I’ve heard different stories of where he found it, but he did, indeed, find it and he commenced to growing it again in Augusta.
Now fast forward to 2026. Paul Hopen, vineyard manager for David Hoffmann, tells me that they still grow it, and Augusta Wine and Mt. Pleasant both make port with it. On July 14, Paul will bring a bottle of each to The Harmonie…and Augusta Winery will even provide real wine glasses!!
But wait, there’s more: Bill and Mary Ann Sadler also grow the Muench grape, and Fred Dressel manages that vineyard. Gabe Miller, vintner at Noboleis, currently has a barrel of the rosé, and he has agreed to extract one bottle for our TILIW event. I am optimistic that Fred, Gabe, Bill and Mary Ann Sadler, Scott Toedebusch, Julie Krakowski, and Paul Hopen will all make an appearance that night.
And let’s not forget TerraVox Winery near Weston, MO. I was lucky enough to visit there about 8 years ago, and I was shocked by all the unusual American varieties they grow and ferment. https://www.terravox.wine/ And Muench grape was there! Consequently, we’ll have 3 different vintages of rosé to sample that night. If you want an in-depth look at the owner of TerraVox, Gerard Eisterhold, take a look at this article from the Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/man-saving-americas-forgotten-grapes-180983239/ Did you know that Eisterhold’s day gig is designing museums??
Yes, I know I get a little carried away when I write these notices, but a man needs a hobby…besides drinking wine. Allow me to share one more thing with you. I have an interesting photo which I found at the Augusta Museum. It depicts a 1934 Muench family reunion. They were celebrating 100 years in MO. The venue is the wine cellar at Mt. Pleasant.
Stay curious, my invisible friends. I hope some of you become visible at The Harmonie, Tuesday evening July 14
paulO
If you wish to read more stories, or want to make a donation to Friends of Historic Augusta and Tell It Like It Was, please use this link: https://www.augustamomuseum.com/tell-it-like-it-was-stories